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Course Summary

The Story of Science 1 - The Emergence of Natural Philosophy

Unit 1 - The Arrival Of Homo Sapiens

The unit starts with an explanation of the nature and methods of science. What is known about the first appearance of Homo sapiens is included together with when the species spread throughout the known world.

Unit 2 - Life In The Stone And Bronze Ages

The earliest science ideas emerged in the Stone Age and developed through the Bronze Age when the early civilizations developed, with significant developments in mathematics, science and technology.

Unit 3 - Life In The Iron Age

The Iron Age developed from around 1000 BCE bringing many changes to how people lived. The partnership between mathematics,science and technology developed further and science ideas and knowledge spread widely. The role of archaeology in revealing the story of science has been significant.

Unit 4 - The Greek Philosophers

Greek culture and learning developed from around 6500 BCE reaching its peak from around 600 to 300 BCE. The beliefs of the main philosophers are described.

Unit 5 - From The Greeks To The Romans

Following the establishment of the great library at Alexandria is described it became a major centre of learning for over 700 years. The Romans made a significant contribution to science knowledge.

Unit 6 - Elsewhere In The World

Meanwhile substantial developments had taken place in India and China. These developments are described and an account is given of the start of the world's main religions.

Unit 7 - The Muslim Contribution

Muslim scholars preserved the works of the Greeks and Romans and established new centres of learning. Major contributions were made in many fields, particularly by Muslim scholars in Spain.

Unit 8 - The Christian Church Takes Control

The Christians took control of learning around 1100 and science knowledge spread from the Muslims of Spain and Portugal to Western Europe. The humanist movement and the revival of Neoplatonism during the 1300s both had effects.

Unit 9 - The Foundations Of Natural Philosophy

The achievements of natural philosophers during the 1500s and 1600s are described together with the effects of the Reformation and Counter-Reformation. The course finishes with a review of the whole period of the development of science knowledge from earliest man to around 1650.